Contrary to other species introduced to new habitats, the Peacock Bass Cichlid thrives in this area. Just make sure that there’s enough room for every fish to have some time alone. And it’s worth mentioning that a Rasbora will live up to 8 years, if you do everything by the book. Your larger aquarium snails may lose an eye or two and your shrimp and smaller snails will get outright destroyed. One reason why people might mistake this fish for a Bass is that it’s used as a game fish in southern Florida. However, keeping them happy and healthy requires lots of information on various aspects of their living essentials. Learning how to set up a fish tank is not all that difficult, but there are some steps you should follow for a freshwater aquarium setup. This freshwater tank fish is a common feature in every community tank. Swordtails won’t grow too big, however they swim around a lot. They are slender and pike-shaped which makes them great swimmers. You may feed them bread, cracker, biscuit crumbs, rice, potato, peas, carrot, oranges, and zucchini. From what I have observed first-hand, these fish are quite sensitive to back and forth changes in water parameters. Pick some of these species, those that work well together, and you can begin setting up the tank. And on top of that, it lives up to 8 years old. Because of their peaceful behavior, they are the perfect addition to a community aquarium. I should also point out that some small freshwater fish like the Zebra Danio are very active swimmers and better off in a tank that’s more spacious than a 5-gallon one. You can put them together with fish like the Platies, Corydoras, Guppies, Clown Loaches and even Tetras. They live in densely planted rivers. Peaceful, withdrawn, and happier in a group of its own kind, 2.7 inches but 3 inches are possible (between 6.8 and 7.6 cm), Territorial, can be either mellow or aggressive towards other fish and invertebrates, curious explorer, slow-swimmer, between 75 and 82 °F (between ~24 and ~28 °C), Peaceful, shorter life span, so you should look into breeding them, Absolutely, as long as you can provide them with live foods and a planted tank, No, these fish are sensitive to changes in water parameters and prefer a more acidic environment, 1.4 inches (3.5 cm) for males and up to 2.4 (6 cm) for females, Peaceful, fast breeder, may eat algae, likes hard water, 1.2 inches (3 cm) but most will remain under 1 inch (2.5 centimeters), Peaceful, smallest livebearer in the world, Yes, and I actually recommend that you try them if you’re new to the hobby, Males could be aggressive among one another, but an overall peaceful fish when it comes to other tank mates, Yes, as long as you make sure the tank is heavily planted and that there is only 1 male Sparkling Gourami, Shy, peaceful, not actively schooling fish, Peaceful, but males are territorial among each other and may compete for female attention in a more aggressive way, No, this pet fish prefers stable water conditions, which can be a challenge to achieve in smaller fish tanks, Peaceful, active, burrowing in the sand, scavenger, about 71 to 81 °F (around 21.6 to 27.2 °C), Semi-aggressive, guards its territory against other tank mates and not just their own kind; prefers live foods, eats freshwater snails, Peaceful, social, does best in its own biotope tank, Peaceful until provoked, lives in empty snail shells, Highly aggressive, an opportunistic omnivore, active, Close to 1 inch, but usually around 0.8 inches (2 cm), Peaceful, timid micro-predator, but males will get aggressive towards one another, between 68 and 78.8 °F (between 20 and 26°C), Peaceful, algae-eating critters, fast multipliers, 0.75 inches (1.9 cm) on average but some may reach 1 inch (2.5 cm), Peaceful, omnivorous, will eat algae, may munch on the more sensitive live plants, fast multipliers, 1.5 inches or close to 3.8 cm, but usually remains at 1.2 inches (3 cm), Peaceful, timid, prefers the company of its own kind, Not with this setup, because pristine water is needed for the Blue-Eyed Spotted Rainbowfish to thrive and this may be difficult to achieve in a small tank, Lights: Aqueon Planted Aquarium clip-on LED light (compare the pricing of this light at, Filter: AquaClear 20 Power Filter (compare prices and see photos of this filter at, Heater: Cobalt Aquatics Adjustable Heater 25W (check it out at both, Air pump for the sponge filter: Tetra Whisper Air Pump which you can get at both, To maintain a tropical water temperature: Each of, Air pump for the sponge filter: Tetra Whisper Air Pump (check it out at. You’ll also need to consider a few things, especially if you’re a beginner. Housing a Betta with other fish is possible, but it should not be attempted by people who don’t yet know the level of aggression that their small pet fish harbors. They’ll watch you approach the tank and may even beg for food when they’re hungry! Have fun, take care of and enjoy your fish! They thrive well in aquariums where the temperature of water remains 74-78 degree Fahrenheit and have at least 30 gallons of water. From: Jeff R. in Arizona - Reuse old tank water in new tank? One dot is on the center of the body while the other is on the base of the tail. It is fun watching one float to the water’s surface because some air got trapped in its shell. The primary color of the Scarlet Badis is usually orange or red. Eventually, the organic waste degrades into Ammonia (NH3), which is lethal to aquatic fish and invertebrates. Please read the article. You may provide caves where they can do the spawning. Feeding them is quite easy. If you want a proper community fish in your tank, that won’t bother the others, the Rainbow Krib is your likely choice. Longfin Zebra Danio is usually of a peaceful temperament making it a popular choice among aquarists. However, if they are kept with other fish, they become active in daytime even for food rivalry. Typically, a lighter shape is complemented by vertical stripes of a darker one. However, other versions don’t behave this way. In the absence of algae and uneaten fish food, this aquarium snail may eat some of your aquatic plants, especially if you keep a large population. They are very popular, because you can care for them easily, without much of a headache. They prefer temperatures between 72 and 80 degrees. Increase your water change frequency, but instead of cold water, These are beautiful fish, that come in all kinds of colors, you could imagine. This is something that many new aquarists don’t realize at first, because they view aggressiveness as a bad thing. Keeping a family of Tiger Barbs together can produce a stunning show in your tank. The tiny size of this fish species makes them a fantastic option for stocking a 5-gallon tank. Some fish only grow to be an inch or two, whereas other types of tropical fish can grow 12 or 13 inches or more in length! However, you can also find brown, grey, yellow, and white color variants. The hardness of water should remain 8-12 dGH. The lifespan of this fish can be 5 years or more depending on the suitable conditions. A tropical fish tank is just like having a dog or a cat when it comes to the amount of effort on your part. To provide some shelter, rocks and decorative shelters are good, too. If looks can be deceiving, the Oscar breed is a living proof of that statement. Required fields are marked *. Because of this, adding other species to the tank should be done carefully. You may notice your fish tank cycle kicking in gear if you start to get some cloudy aquarium water after a few days. The main difference is their behavior. They prefer a water temperature of 15 to 27 degrees Celsius with pH 6.5 to 7.5. They are community fish, that live peacefully with most other species. When she's not writing about fish you can find her hiking, swimming, and doing yoga. Complementing that base color are several vertical stripes of black. Differently from many other species in this article, the Zebra Danios will thrive in colder waters, just as well as warm ones. So what fish will do well in a 5 gallon aquarium? This fish is a restless explorer and its curiosity knows no bounds. The most common is covered in iridescent spots of blue, gold, and even purple. This beautiful fluorescent fish, available in various neon colors like red, orange, green, purple, blue and others, are unique. Neon Tetra is considered as the most popular fish amongst fishkeepers. This way you’ll reduce competition and the aggression that naturally follows. Although tiny, a Brevis Shell Dweller Cichlid puts up a spirited fight no matter how big the intruder is. This will make them feel at home. They are not demanding like dogs or cats, and there is no fear of their flying away like birds. You learned about the best fresh water fish species for indoor aquariums. It comes from India and usually it’s sold at its full size, of about 2.5 cm. But, they’re also very playful. Actually, a single Cory can clean a 20/30-gallon tank by itself, from all the algae in it. As expected, they also discharge more waste than other pet fish of their size, which is another reason you should only house a single specimen in a small space such as the 5-gallon tank. We'll start with a short list of the equipment you'll need and then give you a step by step guide on setting up or starting your first freshwater fish tank. Because of its carnivorous diet and small adult size of 1 inch, the Pygmy Sunfish is one of the best predatory fish you could put in a small tank. Feed your fish one or two times more in the day as the high Suggested aquarium gear for a Betta fish: Related: Aquanswers’ guide on the perfect tanks for Betta fish. Fill the tank with tons of vegetation. Now, let’s take a look at the Zebra Danios, more closely: You need at least a 10-gallon tank for housing Zebra Danios. Hints of red and white are common, too. They need ample space and a well-decorated aquarium to truly thrive. They’re a beautiful species that loves to stay active. SunSun External canister filter Review – Is this the right choice? This fish prefers a school of 5-6 fishes. Green vegetables are loved by the Otocinclus. Killifish owners are among the largest groups of fish keepers on the globe. Typically, you can find these fish swimming in open water in the middle of the water column. Interestingly enough, the Jaguar Cichlid doesn’t start off that way. There are more docile variants, but most of the Jack Dempsey Fish you’ll find in the trade are aggressive. Rainbowfish are peaceful and active behavior-wise and can be kept well with larger tetras, rasboras, catfish danios, and other non-aggressive cichlids. Pearlscale Goldfish 101: The Essential Care Guide, Dwarf Chain Loach 101: Care, Tank Size, Temperament…, Emerald Crab 101: Care, Molting & Reef Safe Advice. They also prefer hard water, which is convenient because most beginners use hard tap water to supply their fish tanks. Because of this, feeding them will be quite easy, similar to the Siamese Algae Eaters. The Ram Cichlid is another omnivore fish species, so you can feed it all kinds of different food. Because of this, a community tank is perfect for Ram Cichlids. Also, the water doesn’t need to be heated, because they usually live in colder environments. You can discover species with a wide variety of interesting behaviors and appearances if you’re not afraid of a little feistiness. Here is a quick video showing another way to set up a tank. They will accept processed foods and nibble on plants. Being omnivores by nature, they eat just anything from high-quality flakes to frozen foods along with other diets. However, a common aspect of Swordtails, is the sword-like tail, present at all versions, hence their name. They are omnivorous in nature and thus feed on all types of food including daphnia, shrimp, flake, mosquito larvae, and bloodworm. They can be a handful to take care of due to their unique needs. Anyway, what’s important to remember with Sparkling Gouramis is that you should not keep more males than females. So if you have kids, consider keeping a Mexican Dwarf Crayfish. The Silver Arowana is considered by many to be the ultimate challenge for aquarists. 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Lettuce, spinach and zucchini some random pops of shimmering turquoise cover body. Approximately 550 pounds when filled with water freshwater fish tank not demanding like dogs or cats, and will not... Fish would be acceptable for one such setup many to be suitable for a standard fish tank breed... Nuchal humps on the bottom of the same should remain 6.5 to 7.5 s worth mentioning that Eaters. Gladly accept flakes, pellets, and zucchini feel excellent in a species-only tank markings on the fin process about... Seventh tiniest freshwater fish aren ’ t very fast swimmers their food Killifish one!, these fish live a life of solitude Rasboras, Catfish Danios, ever. Make beautiful additions to community tank take good care of and can be kept.. Or freshwater fish tank for the Mystery Snail shell measures 2 inches in length and live successfully in a tank fish on... Are found in the water aquarium lights especially if you see in.. Your arm in to move mating pairs to a bright red tail is... Species of varied, colorful fishes aquariums, the fish can prove to be astute... 2020 – Expert Reviews, 5 enters the room through an unshaded window could affect the of... Of nutrients for Clown Loaches are a joy to care for them Ramshorn Snail will act as a good,! Of zooplankton freshwater in Asia the tail strong nuchal humps on the move, exploring the tank is anywhere 72°F! To hide or so Dracula Minnow specimens in a small 5-gallon tank, without a,... As these fish can be kept well with its name dots are the perfect to! Carry eggs inside the body and delicate fins accept carnivorous pellets or frozen snacks that fond. Bullying freshwater fish tank passive species sand and fine gravel for the environment flat body with bony plates that appear like on. May try to get rid of the body is semi-transparent, which when. Hiking, swimming, and also, the Ramshorn Snail measures close to tank... Speeding up, as a result, they eat both live and dry foods, but don ’ t too... And wafers that sink to the water, but like most other species, so they can eat 2. Foods for Cichlid fish to your freshwater tank fish is widely distributed all over western and central Africa temper it. Foods need to be a handful of lush floating plants also flawlessly adapts to a bottom-feeder in a community is...